Lenny Henry - 'My parents' Windrush journey inspired new drama Three Little Birds'

ok.co.uk:

National treasure Sir Lenny Henry delved deep into his family history to create his new Windrush-inspired drama Three Little Birds.The 65-year-old comedy star joined forces with It’s A Sin writer Russell T Davies for the series, which tells the story of three young Jamaican women beginning a new life in Britain in the 1950s. “My inspiration was the stories of my parents, my uncles and aunties talking about what it was actually like to come to Britain in the 50s,” Lenny says.

The six-part period drama follows sisters Leah and Chantrelle, played by The Nevers’ Rochelle Neil and EastEnders ’ Saffron Coomber, as they emigrate from Saint Ann Parish to Notting Hill and eventually the West Midlands with their family friend Hosanna (newcomer Yazmin Belo).

Leah leaves her three children behind in search of new opportunities in Britain, while Chantrelle hopes to become a star and Hosanna is initially sent over to Blighty as a “mail-order bride”. “I got a sense of these young people coming to a new country to start a new life, this idea of leaving a place that didn’t feel safe in terms of survival and taking care of your family, and going somewhere where you might be able to create a better life,” Lenny continues. “But when they get to the Motherland, there’s no gold in the streets.There’s no red carpet.

People don’t know who you are. “[Locals say] ‘Jamaica – where’s that then? Is that in Africa?’” he adds, putting on a cockney accent. “There’s a sense of having to overcome things.